Machine for feeding cylindrical blanks to bending devices



E. R. PERSON.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING CYLINDRICAL BLANKS T0 BENDING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11. I919.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. R. PERSON.

v MACHINE FOR FEEDING CYLINDRLCAL BLANKS TO BENDING DEVICES.

APPLICATI ON FILED JAN. 11, 1919.

' Patented Feb. 10,1920.

6 SHEETSSHEET 2 E. R. PERSON.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING CYLINDRLCAL BLANKS T0 BENDING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. H, 1919.

v 1,330,450. v Patented Feb. '10, 1920.

6 SHEETSSHEEI 3.

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E. R. PERSON.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING CYLINDRICAL BLANKS T0 BENDING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. II, I9I9. V

' Patented Feb. 10,1920.

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- APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11. 1919.

Patented Feb. 10,1920.

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APPLICATION FILED IAN-4h I9I9.

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EARL R. PERSON, 0F LEOMINSTER, M ASSACHUSETTS ASSIGNOR TO THE 'VISCOLOID COMPANY, OF LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

Application filed January 11, 1919. Serial No. 270,727.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL R. PERSON, a citizen of the United States residing at Leominster, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented anew anduscful Machine for Feeding Cylindrical Blanks to Bending Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a bending machine for bending and shaping hair-puns, although some features of it are capable of use in other connections. The invention relates chiefly to a device for feeding long cylindrical blanks periodically and supplying them to the bending or other mechanism which is to operate on them to bring them into the general shape of the completed article, as for example a hair-pin, and 1nvolves some improvements in the bending device itself.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide simple and effective means that are not likely to get out of repair foraccurately feeding long cylindricalblanks from a hopper, rolling them along a heating table to get them to the proper temperature for working, and then periodically feeding them to the bending device in time with the operations thereof; to provide for straightening and keeping them in proper form by preventing warping during the feeding and heating operations; to provide improved means for receiving the blanks in proper position in the bending device; and to provide improvements in the details of construction and mechanism for operating the several elements necessary for performing the above mentioned operations. 7

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention with the hopper and steam table removed so as to show the interior construction;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, the arrows 2 and 3 on Fig. 1 indicating the direction from which Figs. 2 and 3 are taken Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the hne 4.4c of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 5 is a plan of the top of the Steam arrow 7 in Fig. 5 and table and operating parts with the side frame shown in section and the hopper omitted;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the front end thereof taken in the direction of the showing the feeding roll;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 5 on enlarged scale;

Fi 9 is a sectional view of a detail on the line 99 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken back of the plane of Fig. 2, showing the top of the press and the mechanism for oscillating the feed roll;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken below the plane of Fig. 1 and showing the ends of the racks for operating the pair of bending dies;

Fig. 12 is a detail view of the central bending die;

Fig. 13 is a plan on enlarged scale of one of the blank receiving and centering guides;

Fig. 14 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 15 is a plan of the bending device on enlarged scale and showing the blank in position therein; I

Fig. 16 is a similar view showing the parts after they have moved to bending position,

Fig. 17 is a sectional view similar to a part of Fig. 4, but on enlarged scale, and showing the parts in the same position as in Fig. 15.

This machine is designed to take 'oylindrical rods or blanks 20 of celluloid, metal, or other material, located in arallel position in a hopper 21, roll them a ong a steam table 22 which in the caseof celluloid articles will heat them up to a condition to be operated upon, deliver them one by one to a feed roll 23 having a notch 24 for receiving them, and turn them over on this roll into the position shown in Fig. 15 ready to be operated upon for the purpose of bending them into the form of hair-pins 19 or any other desired shape.

The machine is shown as having a main shaft 25 provided with ceivin power from any desired source. This shaft 1s provided with a pinion 27 meshing with a large gear 28 mounted on a stud. This gear meshes with a gear 29 (Fig. 1) on-a shaft 30 and rotates this shaft. This shaft a pulley 26 for rehas a gear 31 which operates a middle gear 32 meshing with a gear 33 on a stud 34. On

' this stud is a cam 35 operating a roll 36 on a lever 37, which is connected by a link 38 with an arm 39 on a shaft 40, on which shaft are a series of spaced segmental hopper rolls 41. A spring 42 holds the roll 36 up against the cam 35, and a complete rbtation of the shaft 34 obviously will oscillate the hopper rolls 41 back and forth.

It is to be noted that the hopper 21 is provided with a slanting side 42 which comes vided with the oscillating surfaces 43 to roll the blanks 20 forward each time they oscillate in one direction. This results in feeding a single row of them on to the steam table 22, which is mounted in stationary position on, the frame. 7 w

The shaft 30 also is provided with a cam 45 which at each rotation lifts a roll 46 on the pivoted arm 47 against the action of a spring 48 and away from a stop 49. This arm is provided with a projection 50 having a roll 51 thereon which at each riseengages an arm 52 on a shaft 53 and turns that shaft with a cam 54. This engages a bar 55 which is fixed to a plate 56, which has a felt or rubber bottom 57 adapted to reston the blanks on the-steam table. This action of the shaft 53 is transmitted to a second shaft, 59 by a link 60. The shaft 59 is provided with cams 54 also, which operates in the same way, and the result is the lifting of this plate 56 from the cylindrical blanks on which it normally rests.

Also mounted on' the shaft'or stud 34 is a cam 63 which engages a roll 64 on the bar 55 and forces the whole plate back when it is 111 its raised condition against the action of a spring 66. Then when it drops, this spring pulls it forward as the cam 63 moves out of the way. but in' that case it rests on the cylindrical blanks below and rolls them forward with it.

The blanks finally reach the end of the steam table 22 and roll down its front incl1ned surface 67. At the bottom of this 1ncl1ne they engage the surface of the feed roll 23. The surfaces of the roll and incline constitute a pocket just wide enough at the bottom to receive only one rod 20. The roll' is provided with the notch 24 which Wlll receive the bottom blank and carry it up over in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 17 underneath a guard 69, which is notched at in front to furnish clearance forjl'the plunger 85, and drop it along a guide 68 on a table 71, as indicated in Fig. 17. The

therefore moves the yoke up and down. This yoke is connected with a plunger 84 in a cylinder 85, a spring 86 being employed to normally bring the plunger up whenever the cam has forced it down, and on the bottom is a platen 87 which is adapted to come down on the rod or blank as it is shaped,

which shaping operation is performed as will be described below, and force it down through the dies.

The shaft 30 is provided with a pair of cams 90 which operate on rollers 91 mounted on longitudinally adjustable slides 92, each of which is provided with a rack 93 meshing with a pinion 94 on a vertical shaft 95. At the bottom each of these shafts 95 is held by a spring 96 in its retracted position, that is, the roll 91 is held up against its cam 90 by this spring. On these shafts 95 are located a pair of bending dies 97. The oscillation of the shafts 95 oscillates these dies. The operation and shape of these dies will of course be modified in accordance with the shape of the hair-pin or other article desired, and they are designed in the present case to bend it around three stationary projections 98, 99 and 100 located on a fixture 101 on the finishing table. There is a passage 102 for the discharge of the pins. They are forced down this. passage a step each time the plunger 87 descends.

It is to be observed, however, that when a yoke 83, and that the rotation of this shaft the pin blank is dropped on this table from the feeding roll 23, it engages a pair of receiving and centering members 104. Each opposite end. Whenever the bending dies 97=-imove forward into the position shown in Fig. 16, the levers 107 swing down by gravity-"but of the way below the level of the table 71 and the projections l08 swing up. i

. Then, when the dies 97 move back to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 15213118) engage the projections 108 and force the centermg ends up into the position shown in Fig. 14 ready to receive the blanks.

Another cam 110 mounted on the shaft 30 operates a roll 111 on a bracket 112 fixed to a sliding shaft 113. A spring 114 forces this slide forward while the cam forces it back against the resistance of the spring. On the operating end of this sliding rod 113 is another bending die 115 which is forced up against the end of the blank, as shown in Fig. 16, to press the blank firmly about the shaping member 98.

It is while the hair-pin blank is in the position shown in Fig. 16 that the die head 87 comes down upon it and forces it into proper horizontal position, and'holds it while it is beingshaped, and this forces it down through the dies. I

It is to be noted that the shaft 30 with its cams is located in a casing 118 which supports the steam table 22, and in fact constitutes a part of theframe that supports the hopper and balance of the machine, and that the space in this casing in which the shaft is located constitutes an oil space for receiving lubricating oil and is provided with a drain at 119.

Having described the operation of each of the elements in connection with the description of theirconstruction and substantially the order in which they operate,'it.will not be necessary to specify the order of operations again in detail. -But it is to be seen that the blanks are first collected in the large I hopper 21, which ,iscapable of receiving a great many, and thenare positively fed out of the hopper by the motion of the rolls 41 one at a time, and then rolled along the heating table 22 always toward the inclined edge, by the peculiar motion of the plate 56,

and dropped one at .a time after .being straightened on this table into the notch 2 L of the feeding roll 23, which then deposits the blank on the'receiving and centering members 104.. The bending operation then takes, place, the commencement of it, namely, the starting of the forward motion of the dies 97 depressing the centering devices 104:

and leaving the blank properlv centered on' the level of the table 102, the bending then taking place in the manner above described. To. cool the pins cold water 'is circulated through passages 120 in the bottom of the dies. The pins by their resiliency hold themselves in the vertical passage 102 exi. the hopper.

than the other and resulting in warping or curling of the blanks, and that even if this occurred they are under pressure on the table all the time except when the plate 56 is being lifted for' another stroke so that they are accurately centered by a means that disappears atthe proper time and cannot get in the way of the operating parts, and that simple means is provided throughout for performing the various functions and assuring the production of a uniform and complete product. The parts are simple and not likely to get out of orderin practice, and they require very little attention on the partof the operator. 1

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form. of the invention and show-n it as applied only to the feeding of cylindrical hair-pin blanks to a specific form of dies, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art, that blanks of other shapes -limit myselfon these points, but what I do claim is- 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a hopper for receiving a plurality of cylindrical blanks and provided with a surface on one side movable in the direction of its own self toward the outlet of the ho er, with a heating table constituting a continuationof the hopper for receiving the blanks therefrom.

2. A hopper for the purpose described havingconverging walls constituting its discharge end and provided with surfaces con-- stituting a part of one of said walls movable toward the outlet without change of direction, and for rolling said blanks out ofthe hopper in contact with the surface of the other wall. I

3. A hopper for the purpose described having converging front andrear walls. and a series of segmental rolls constituting a part of the front wall oscillatable on their axes for rolling the blanks or the like out of 4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a hopper having c011- verging walls at its discharge end and provided with surfaces constituting a part of one of said walls movable toward the outlet without change of direction and for rolling said blanks out of the hopper in contact with the surface of the other wall, witlra heating table constituting a continuation of said.- other'wall of the hopper for receiving the blanks therefrom.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a hopper having converging front and rear walls, and a series of rolls constituting a part of the front wall oscillatable on their axes for rolling the blanks or the like out of the hop per, of a table constituting a continuation ofthe rear wall of the hopper along which table the blanks are adapted to be rolled as they pass from the hopper, and means above the table for continuing to roll the blanks along it.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a hopper having converging front and rear walls, a series of movable members constituting a part of one wall for rolling the blanks or the like out of the hopper, of a heating table constituting a horizontal continuation of the other wall of the hopper along which table the blanks are adapted to be rolled as they blanks and having a soft bottom surface,

means for'moving the plate forward while it is resting on the blanks, and means for then raising the plate, moving it backward and lowering it on the blanks before the firstnamed means again operates.

-8. In a machine of thecharacter de scribed, the combination of a heating table for receiving a series of cylindrical blanks on its surface, a plate adapted to rest on said blanks above the table, means for moving the plate forward to roll the blanks along the table, means for lifting the plate ofl' the-blanks and moving it backward and thenlowering it on the blanks again, and means for heating the blanks while on said table.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a table for receiving a series of cylindrical blanks on its surface, a plate adapted to rest on said blanks above the table, means for moving the plate forward to roll the blanks along the table, and means for lifting the plate off the blanks and moving it backward and then lowering it onthe blanks again, said lifting means comprising a rotating cam, a lever operated thereby, a pair of shafts, one of said shafts having an arm adapted to be lifted by said lever, means for connecting the shafts together to operate them simultane-' ously, and a pair of cams on each shaft for controlling the vertical position of the plate.

10. Ina machine of the character described, the combinationof a table for receiving a series of cylindrical blanks on its surface, a plate adapted to rest on said blanks above the table, means for moving 11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a table for receiving a series of cylindrical blanks on its surface, a plate adapted to rest on said blanks above the table, means for moving the plate forward to roll the blanks along the table, means for lifting the plate of! the blanks and moving it backward and then lowering it on the blanks again, said table having a slanting surface at the delivery end, and a delivery roll having a notch adapted to come into position to receive a blank when located at the bottom of said slantin surface.

12. n a device for feeding hair-pin blanks, the combination of a table having a slanting delivery end, means for rolling blanks along the table and bringing them one by one on to the slanting end down which they roll, a delivery roll located at the end of the table and having a notch adapted to engage a blank when at the bot tom of said incline and support it, and means for turnin said .roll around to a po: sition in which t e blank drops out of the notch.

'13. In a device for feeding cylindrical rods, the combination of a table, means for rolling the rods or blanks along the table and feeding them one at a time to the end thereof, a delivery roll having a notch in its side adapted to come into position to receive one of the rods from the table, and-means for oscillating said rollto move the notch around to a position from which the rod drops naturally. I A

14. In a device for feeding cylindrical rods, the combination of a table, means for rolling the rods or blanks along the table and feeding them one at a time to the'end thereof, a delivery roll having a notch in its sidef'adapted to come into position to receive one er the rods from the table, means for turning said roll to move the notch around to a position from which the rod I of the'blank from said roll and center'them.

guides each having three slanting surfaces.

for receiving the opposite ends of a hair- 1 pin blank and centering it longitudinally and laterally independently of its length, a pair of bending dies, and means whereby the movement of said bending dies will cause the centering means to move out of the way.

16. In a hair-pin bending machine, the combination of a receiving table, a pair of pivoted levers located on said table each lever having anoperative end provided with two side slanting'surfaces and an end slanting surface for receiving a hair-pin blank, and a progection at, the other end, said projection being located nearer the pivot than said surfaces whereby the lever will normally tip up at that end, and a pair of pivoted bending dies adapted to engage the 'upwardly. projecting ends and force the levers to swing about their pivots so as to bring the slanting'surfaces above the surface of the table.

17. In a hair-pin bending machine, the combination of a fixture for receiving the heated rod blanks, means for bendingthe rod blank in the fixture, means for forcing the pin through the fixture, and means for cooling the pinbefore it leaves the fixture.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a table for receiving a series of cylindrical blanks on its surface, a plate adapted to rest on said blanks above the table, means for .moving the plate forward to roll the blanks along the table, and means for lifting the plate off the blanks and moving it backward and then lowering it on the blanks again.

19. In a. machine of the character described, the combination with a hopper, a movable member for rolling the blanks or the like out of the hopper, of a table con stituting a horizontal continuation of the wall of the hopper along which table the blanks are adaptedto-be rolled as they pass from the hopper, and a plate above the table adapted to rest on the blanks and having a soft bottom for continuing to roll the blanks along it intermittently. v.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a hopper; and a series of rolls oscillatable on their axes for rolling the blanks or the like out of the hopper, of a table constituting a continuation of the rear wall of the hopper,

along which table the blanks are adapted to be rolled as they pass from the hopper, and

' means above the table for-continuing to roll the blanks along it. v

- 21. The method of straightening celluloid rod blanks which consists in placing them. on a heated surface and rolling them along 

